Resource Management Training Package for Secondary School Graduates for Economic Success in Oil Palm Production Enterprises in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Abstract
This study was carried out to develop resource management training package for secondary school graduates for their economic success in oil palm production enterprises. Survey research design was used for the study.
The study was carried out in Akwa Ibom State. The population of the study was 702 comprising 306 teachers of agriculture, 68 extension agents, 78 oil palm nursery farmers, 93 plantation workers, 104 palm oil/kernel processors and 53 palm oil/kernel marketers.
The sample for this study was 466 respondents made up of 70 teachers of agriculture, 68 extension agents, 93 plantation workers, 104 processors and 53 marketers.
A four-set Resource Management Training Questionnaire (RMTQ) was developed from literature reviewed and information obtained from the oil palm industry.
The questionnaire items had a 4-points response scale of Highly needed (4), Averagely needed (3) Slightly Needed (2) and Not needed (1).
The questionnaire was face-validated by 5 experts. Cronbach’s Alpha method was utilized to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire.
The reliability coefficient (r) of 0.71 for nursery, 0.91 for plantation, 0.82 for processing and 0.80 for marketing enterprises were obtained.
The researcher and four research assistants administered 466 copies of the questionnaire on the respondents in their various locations.
Introduction
1.1 Background of Study
Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a tropical tree crop grown extensively in the rainforest zone of southern Nigeria including Akwa Ibom State.
Witt, Fairhust and Griffiths (2005) stated that there are three varieties of oil palm that are popularly studied by researchers and cultivated by farmers all over the world.
The three varieties are Dura, Pisifera and Tenera; they are classified on the basis of the thickness of their mesocarp and endocarp which influence the size of the fruits.
The Dura variety has a thin mesocarp with very thick endocarp in its fruit, the Pisifera variety has a very thick mesocarp with much reduced or absence of endocarp; while the Tenera variety is characterized by medium thickness of mesocarp and endocarp.
These varieties are grown intensively in Nigeria by breeders for research purpose and cultivated by oil palm farmers for their economic benefits.
Farmers who intend to embark on palm oil production can cultivate pisifera which has a very thick mesocarp or oil layer and reduced kernel in its fruits; but those who have the motive of producing kernel could cultivate Dura variety with very large kernel and thin oil layer;
while other farmers who intend to combine both oil and kernel production in their farm business can cultivate the Tenera variety characterized by medium thickness of the oil layer and the kernel.
References
Adam, G. (2005). Longman Dictionary of contemporary English. Nigeria: Longman pub. Plc.
AKADEP (2004). Akwa Ibom State ADP News Bulletin. Vol. 8, 103 AKS Press.
Akpan, P.S. (2006). Small and Medium scale enterprises in oil palm production in Akwa Ibom State: Proceedings of training workshop organized by ADP for new employees in Akwa Ibom State on Nov. 23, 2006.
Akuma, S. M. (2006). Instructional training and skills development. Ibadan: African FEB Publishers Ltd.
Akwaji, (2006). Work skills required by secondary school graduates for success in cassava processing enterprises in Cross River State. Unpublished M.Ed. Thesis. Department of Vocational Teacher Education University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Al-Roth, G. (2006). Economics and Business Administration. Harvard: University Press. Low states.
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